Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. - 2Timothy 3:5

This evening, Bro Dillow led a discussion about the dangers of formalism. This was the second half of the lesson this morning that dealt with emotionalism.

Formalism is defined as giving strict, excessive attention to outward forms. A tendency to shift the focus away from the abstract. While some churches are focused on extreme emotional manipulation, such as Pentecostalism and Charismatic churches, others go to the other extreme and they fail to allow for their members to expresse emotions at all. Mainstream Protestant and the Roman Catholic church as examples of formal churches. Very formal. Very dry. Very dead.

God would not have us on the extreme of either side of the issue. He would have us to express ourselves from a pure heart. Sometimes that may mean that we express ourselves emotionally and others times it may mean that we be still and know that God is God!

One thing is for certain, whatever we have down in your heart will surely express itself outwardly from time to time. As one dear sister used to sing, "There's something on the inside working on the outside".

Let us never manipulate other emotions to obtain a desired end, but let us never become so formal and rigid that fail to allow the Spirit of God to freely move among us.